LOCATION AND IMPORTANCE.
Key West (the city and island both bearing the same
name) is one of theseries of islands known as the Florida
Keys, at the extreme south of the peninsula, and.is the
county seat of Monroe county; the rendezvous of the
United States naval vessels of the North Atlantic squad-
roi, having the finest, most secure deep-water harbor on
the Gulf; the headquarters of the U. S. District Court
for the Southern District of Florida; is the largest port
of entry on the Gulf coast, and from its large customs
collections ranks as the thirteenth port in the United
States. It is 240 miles south of Tampa; 290 miles south
by east from Cedar Key, and 90 miles north of Havana,
Cuba.
POPULATION.
The total population of the town in 1831 is recorded at
300. In 1876, 12,733 ; in 1886, 17,442; in 1887, 18.940;
and at the present rate of increase will reach 35,000 in-
side of the next five years.
COMMERCIAL.
Key West derives its importance in the commercial
world from-
First. Its geographical position, it being the ex-
treme southern point of the United States;
Second. For its capacious harbor, the great depth of
water over its bar, and the ease of ingress and egress to
and from its outer and inner roadsteads, and

BENSEL'S KEY WEST DIRECTORY. 41

Third. From its affording, as has been already
stated, such ready protection to her shipping, naval and
otherwise, in time of war and stress of weather.
From these considerations and other facts and statis-
tical information which follow, we claim for Key West
that it is the Commercial Emporium of the State of
Florida.
The following table has been kindly prepared for us
from the official records, by Mr. J. Fogarty, the special
deputy collector of the U. S.,Custom House, and shows
a decided increase over the year 1886 :

$60,000. Key West pays nineteen-twentieths of the in-
-ternal revenue collected in the State of Florida, which is
largely due to the importance of the leading industry of
the island-cigar manufacturing.
THE SPONGE INDUSTRY.
Rahking next in importance to cigar manufacturing
is the sponge industry, which adds $250,000 per annum
to the business of the island and gives employment to a
large number of people. We should like to devote sev-
eral pages to a description of the nfodus operandi of se-
.curing and preparing this valuable article of commerce
for the market, but space will not permit.
TURTLING.
A business of about $5,000 per year is done in this line.
Many new buildings, consisting of some very large
cigar factories, mercantile houses, and handsome private
residences, have been erected since our last issue,'and
many more are in course of construction. Two miles
more of street railway track has been laid, making about
eight miles in all. Two daily newspapers have been
established, and the same press dispatches that are read
in the principal cities of the United States every evening
are placed before us by our enterprising newspaper men.
The Morgan line of steamers now touch at Punta Gorda,
opening up a new field for our enterprising business men,
as well as offering to the many tourists and pleasure-
seekers who visit that section an opportunity to take a
run over and enjoy the delightful climate and balmy
breezes of our beautiful island.

"BEI'SEL-'S1

KEY WEST STREET DIRECTORY.

Amelia, from Whitehead between Virginia and Cathe-
rine, southwesterly to the water.
Angela, between Southard and Petronia, northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Ann, from Greene between Duval and Simonton, north-
westerly to Front
Bahama, from Eaton between Duval and Simonton,.
southeasterly to Southard.
Caroline, between Greene and Eaton, northeasterly from
shore to shore.
Catherine, between Virginia and United, northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Centre, from Petronia between Duval and Simonton,
southeasterly to Division.
Charles, from Duval to New, between Greene and'Caro-
line.
Division, between Olivia and Virginia, northeasterly
from shore to shore,
Duval, between Whitehead and Simonton, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Eaton, between Caroline and Fleming, .northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Elizabeth, between Simonton and William, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Ella, from, Petronia 'between Thomas and Emma, to
Angela.
Emma, from Front southerly to the water.
Ferguson Alley, from Thomas near Front, easterly.

i*

ALS1iA1

44 BENSEL'S KEY WEST DIRECTORY.

Fitzpatrick, from Greene between Whitehead and Dn-
val, northwesterly to Front.
Fleming, between Eaton and Southard, northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Florida, from the cantonment southeasterly to Division.
Fort, from U. S. Engineer Reservation southeasterly to
the water.
Frances, between Grinnell and White, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Front, from corner of Fleming northeasterly to Thomas,
thence northerly to Duval, from Duval northeasterly
to the water.
Georgia, from the cantonment southeasterly to Division.
Greene, between Front and Caroline, northeasterly from
shore to shore.
Grinnell, between Frances and Margaret, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Gruntbone Alley, from Eaton to Caroline, between Eliza-
beth arid William.
Howe, from Division between Thomas and Emma, south-
easterly to the water.
Joaquin Alley, from Whitehead northerly.
Jones' Alley, from Angela between Whitehead and
Thomas, northerly to Micken's alley.
Julia, from Whitehead between Virginia and Division,
southeasterly to the water.
Louisa, from Whitehead between Catherine and United,
southwesterly to the water.
Margaret, between William and Grinnell, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
McKeown Alley, from Petronia between Thomas and
Emma, southerly.
Micken's Alley, from Whitehead near Southard, westerly
to Jones' alley.
New, from Greene between Duval and Whitehead,
southeasterly to Caroline.
Olivia, between Petronia and Division, northeasterly
from shore to shore.

111

BENSEL'S KEY WEST DIRECTORY. 45

Parker, from Division between Margaret and Grinnell,
southeasterly to United.
Passover, from Margaret and Angela southerly to Wind-
sor lane.
Pearl, from the cantonment southeasterly to Division.
Petronia, between Angela and Olivia, northeasterly from
shore to shore.
Royal, from Division between William and Margaret,
southeasterly to the water.
Salt Pond Road, from the cantonment easterly along the
water front to the Salt Ponds.
Simonton, between Duval and Elizabeth, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Skinner's Alley, from Olivia between Whitehead and
Thomas, to Petronia.
South, from Simonton southwesterly to the water.
Southard, between Fleming and Angela, northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Thomas, between Emma and Whitehead, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Tift's Alley, from Olivia between Duval and Whitehead,
to Petronia.
United, between Catherine and South, northeasterly from
shore to shore.
Virginia, between Division and Catherine, northeasterly
from shore to shore.
Wall (originally Water), from Whitehead northerly to
Duval, and northeasterly from Duval to Hotel be-
tween Dbuval and Simonton.
Washington Alley,from Thomas near Southard,westerly.
Watson, from Division between' Frances and Grinnell,
northeasterly to United.
Whalton Alley, from Thomas near Fleming, westerly.
White, between Frances and Georgia, southeasterly from
shore to shore.
Whitehead, between Thomas and Duval, southwesterly
from shore to shore.

BENSEL'S KEY WEST DIRECTORY.

William, between Elizabeth and Margaret, southeasterly
from shore to shore.
Windsor Lane, from Elizabeth and Angela easterly to
Passover, and from junction of Passover southeast-
erly to Division.